Magnesium flash-light



(No Model.)

0. DOEHN. MAGNESIUM FLASH LIGHT.

No. 451,853. Patented May 5, 1891.

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OTTO DOEHN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MAGNESIUIVI FLASH-LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,853, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed November 2,1889. Renewed March, 1891. Serial No. 384,029. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that l, OTTO DOEHN, a citizen full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same.

My invention relates to magnesium flashlights, and the object of the invention is to provide a light which will afford a more perfect combustin of the magnesium and ak greater volume of light from a given quantity of the illuminant used than has heretofore been obtained.

To these ends the invention consists, broadly, in a number of conical or funnel shaped pockets or cavities, means for igniting the magnesium as it is pued or blown from the pockets or cavities, and an air blast or blower to force the illuminant from the cavities or pockets and thus produce the flashing light, all as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a complete device constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the cover shown in Fig. 6 removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device on line Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line y y, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the wick-tray. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a cover adapted to be placed upon the device and subdue the flame on the wicking. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a lling device used to supply magnesium to the conical pockets.

A represents the main casing, which is shown in a form well suited to my purpose, but may be changed to suit the taste or the arrangement of the contained parts, which, as will be seen, need not be exactly as here shown, but may be varied considerably and still be within the scope of the invention.

As illustrated in the drawings, the casing A has a chamber in its base-say half an inch or thereabout in depth-and flaring side a,

which are fashioned to coincide with the arc of the wick-tray and the magnesium-cavities within the margin of the tray. of the chamber is closed against the admission of air and the ends o? thereof on a level with the wick-tray.

The magnesium holders, pockets, or cavities b are arranged in the arc of a circle on an arc-shaped tube B, which is soldered or otherwise firmly fastened to the floor a and has open communication at each end with the air or blast conveying pipe C, arranged beneath the floor a. This pipeis bifurcated or has two branches to make the necessary connection with the ends of the said tube B, and the blast is delivered by a flexible hand bulb and tubing, as is common in this art, or by other suitable means.

The funnel-shaped cavities or pockets b are set at one side of the tube B and connected therewith by necks Z9', having channels through which the air passes from the pipe C to the saidcavities or pockets. These channels or passages enter the bottom of the cavities, and as they run horizontally the cavities will hold the magnesium without danger of its running out and yet expose them freely to the air-blast. I

Of course the magnesium, or whatever the material or compound .used to produce the flashing, is in apowdered state, and as much may be used in any quantity as may be found necessary up to the capacity `of the cavities or pockets. Ordinarily, however, the pockets will be only partially lled, and owing to their f unnel-shaped 'form will flare and spread the material when the blast occurs, thus evenly distributing the material and causing prompt and even combustion. It will also be observed that by arranging the pockets thus constructed on the arc of a circle about a common center the flashing material is radiated and spread over a large space, and a flash is produced having very wide surface and giving the greatest possible amount of light from the material used.

The wick-tray D is formed to completely surround the pockets b, and consists of two arcshaped troughs d, which run at either side of the pockets b and meet at the ends where the trough continues in the horizontal por- The floor a c tion d.

The wick is laid in these troughs and may consist of any suitable material,

such as mineral wool, asbestus, or the like.

I have shown a single row or series of pockets b, but two or more rows or series may be` used, or they may be grouped or otherwise arranged. Both the peculiar construction of the pockets or cavities and their arrangement to discharge on radiating lines with respect to one another contribute to the spreading effect I deem so desirable and valuable, and as the pockets are entirely surrounded by the flame of the wick, and there being no airdraft from within the sides of the wicking or about the pockets, the flame will lap across above the pockets and blend the two sides in a single flame, thus completely encircling and inclosing the pockets with a sheet of fire.

It must follow, of course, when the magnesium is blown from the pockets that every particle will be ignited and that there can be no waste, as in devices ordinarily used.

The cover E, Fig. 6, when placed upon the device will lie flat upon the wicking and instantly extinguish the flame when placed thereon.

In Fig. 7 I show a partial sectional view of' a feeding or filling device. This consists of a series of funnel-shaped tubes e, adapted to enter the mouths of the pockets b and convey the powdered material thereto in exactly equal quantities. To do this, I provide each tube e with two adjustable fun nels f and g and two valves h and 7c on a valve-stem Z. The chambermof the filler contains the magnesium in quantity, and the valve 7c normally is down and closes the funnel g, as shown. This valve lo is weighted for this purpose. lVhen the parts are as shown, the lower funnel will fill through the upper one, and the quantity that may flow therein will depend on the position of the upper funnel, which has a sliding adjustment in the tube e. The funnel g being filled, the rising of the valve-stem closes the upper funnel by valve 7L and opens the lower one when the magnesium flows into the pockets b. The several valve-stems are connected by a common bar o, though they are jointly operated and controlled.

The apparatus herein described is designed more especially for use in photography, but is not thus limited in its use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a flash-light, a number of pockets to hold the ila-Shing material and a ilamesupporting device extending on both sides of said pockets, substantially as described.

2. In a flash-light, a series of' pockets or cavities constructed to hold flashing material and a flame-support surrounding said pockets orcavities on substantially the same plane therewith, substantially as described.

3. In a flash-light, a number of holders for the flashing material arranged on the arc of a circle and a flame-support at the sides of said pockets, substantially as described.

4. In a flash-light, a series of funnel-shaped pockets arranged in the arc of a circle and a name-support at the side of said pockets, substantially as described.

5. A flash-light having a number of conical-shaped pockets for the flashing material connected with a common air-blast and a dame-support, substantially as described.

6. A flash-light having an arc-shaped tube to convey air, a series of pockets or holders for the flashing material on said tube and opening into the same, and means to supply a flame, substantially as described.

7. In a flash-light, the main casing having the arc-shaped air-tube and the pockets for the flashing material connected therewith by necks having air-passages atan angle to thc plane of said pockets, substantially as described.

8. In a flash-light, the pockets arranged in a circle on an arc-shaped air-supply tube and the tray extending around said pockets on all sides, substantially as described.

9. In a flash-light, a series of pockets for the flashing material and afilling device having funnel-shaped tubes and valves, substantially as described.

l0. In a flash-light, a series of pockets, in combination with a series of filling-tubes having funnels and valves therein to control the flow of the flashing material, substantially as described.

11.1In a flash-light, a series of radiating holders for the flashing material and a flamesupport encircling said pockets, substantially as described.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 23d day of October, 1889.

OTTO DOEHN.

Vitnesses:

H. T. FISHER, NELLIE L. MCLANE.

IOC 

